Material inserting machine



y 1952 H. E. GANTZER 2,596,813

MATERIAL INSERTINC MACHINE Filed April 9. 1947 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 v 73 :3: 735 I Fig 24 I Z3 73/ 5 1 & E

INVENTOR. f/owarc/ yf er' H. E. GANTZER MATERIAL INSERTING MACHINE May 13, 1952 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 9, 1947 INVENTR. Jihad/(Z E 6222713 67 a 9eflZ May 13, 1952 H. E. GANTZER MATERIAL INSERTING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 9, 1947 INVENTOR. JiZwwr/E 607 ?}67 II 4 i :1; T: g H mu NwW WNW f y 13, 1952 H. E. GANTZER 2,596,813

MATERIAL INSERTING MACHINE Filed April 9, 1947 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN VEN TOR.

May 13, 1952 H. E. GANTZER MATERIAL INSERTING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April 9, 1947 K INVENTOR. 7[owqr(ZE Gal e? Z ayeizz? H. E. GANTZER MATERIAL INSERTING MACHINE May 13, 1952 v 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed April 9, 1947 INVENTOR. flwarcZE 602:?767 BY mw Wk 3 Patented May 13, 1952 usrrso STATES PATENT orrlcs MATERIAL 'MACHINE HowardEiGantzer, Kenmore','-,N.'Y assignor to Consolidated Packaging Machinery Corporation, Bufialo, N. Y., a corporation-of New York ApplicationApril 9, 1947;'SerialNo. 740,391

Q-Ciaims. 1

This invention relates to new andiusefulimprovements in machines for inserting individual lengths of fibrous material into the necksof bot tles, and particularly seeks to provide anovel machine of this general type which is adapted to perform the material-inserting operations as the bottles are moved continuously.

An object of this invention is toprovide a machine for the insertion of fibrous materials into the necks of bottles in which individual lengths of the material are separatedfrom a: continuous strand without the necessity of employing a knife or edged severing apparatus.

Another object of this invention is to provide a machine of the character stated inwhich a length of fibrous material is inserted'into the neck of each of a plurality of successively presented bottles while the bottles are b'eingmoved continuously by appropriate conveying devices.

Another object of this invention is to provide a machine of the character stated in which means are included for effecting lateral displacement of portions of the fibrous-material from a position within the neck of "a bottle topositions underlying the shoulders of-a bottle.

Another object of this, invention, is to'provide a machine of the character stated in'which avertically' reciprocable primary 'tuckingbladeis' em-- ployed to eiiect the initial. insertion ofJ-a length of fibrous material into the neck of fabottle "and a pair of alternately movable spring-biased tucking fingers are thereafter effectiveitdcause the lateral displacement of portions .offthefibi'ous material to positions underlying theshoulders of the bottle.

A further object oflthis.inventionis. to..pro vide a machine of the character stated which is so designed that its component work-perform? ing elements may be readily exchanged :orad: justed to adapt the machinefor use'in connec-v tion with bottles of. varying sizes.

A further object ofthis invention is rtoprovide a machine of thecharacter stated iniwhich the separating of an individual length of fibrous material from a continuous supply strand is ef-. fected by parting the individual. portion fromits supply strand through quicklyapplied tension.

A further object of this invention is. toprovide a machine of the character'stated whichlhas an operating capacity considerably in excess of any other knownJtype of. machinedesigned to per.- form similar operations. I

A further object of this inventionzisrto..provide a fully automatic .machine. of the; character.

2 stated which issimple in design, rugged in construction and economical to manufacture.

With these and other objects in view, the nature ofxwhich will become more apparent, the inventionwill be more fully understood by referencetothe drawings, the accompanying detailed description and the appended claims.

In'the drawings,

Fig; 1 is a rear perspective view of a machine constructed in accordance with this invention;

Fig; 2. is a horizontal section taken along line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig; 3 is a somewhat fragmentary horizontal section of certain of those machine portions disclosed in Fig. 2, but particularly indicating the gear train for driving several of the moving parts;

Fig. 4 is afragmentary top plan view of the motormount;

Fig.5 is anielevation of the motor mount indicated in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary end elevation taken in the direction indicated by the line 6-6 of Fig. 3;

Fig. '7 is afront elevation of the mechanism shown in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 isxan enlarged'fragmentary top: plan view. of part of the mechanism shown in Fig. 2 but showing in. greater detail the feeding and transfer means for the cotton strand;

Fig. 9 is a vertical section taken along line 99 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a vertical section taken along line l0l0 ofFig. 8;

Fig; 11 is an elevational view of the actuating rods for the tucker blade and fingers taken as indicated on line H of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12is a' development of the tucker blade and-finger actuating cam; I

Figs. 13, 14, 15 and 16 are enlarged serial detailed views illustrating one complete cycle of tucking an individual length of fibrous material into a bottle;

Fig. 1'7 is a perspective view of a'tucking finger;

Fig." 18 isa perspective view of the tucking blade;

Fig. 19 is an enlarged detailed view of a tucking finger mounting means taken as indicated on line Iii-:49 of Fig. 15;

Fig. 20 is a detailed perspective view of a modified form ofclamping arm; and

Fig.2l is a fragmentary vertical section taken through the body portion of the clamp shown in Fi 20.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the inventionas-illustrated-is-embodied in a machine for inserting individual lengths of fibrous material strand into the necks of bottles and includes a base A, a fibrous material strand-separating and transfer mechanism generally indicated at B, a turret assembly generally indicated at C for performing the material-inserting operations, and an intake and discharge conveyor generally indicated at D. For the purposes of illustration a container E is indicated at the right of the machine as viewed in Fig. 1 and contains a continuous strand F of fibrous material such as cotton wadding.

The base A includes a skirted table top which supports the major portion of all of the moving parts of the machine. A transverse rod 6 extends across the interior of the base A and pivotally supports a driving motor 7 through the medium of a bracket 8. The drive shaft 9 of the motor carries a self-adjusting V drive pulley I9 which is connected to the driven mechanisms of the machine through the medium of a V belt H. Meansincluding a rod l2 pivotally connected at its lower end to the motor bracket 8 and at its upper end to an adjusting hand wheel l3 are provided to maintain the motor in a stationary but adjustable position. It is believed apparent that as the motor bracket 8 is swung up or down through the medium of the adjusting hand wheel l3 and the supporting rod l2 the tension on the V belt H will be varied and will cause a corresponding variation in the effective diameter of the self-adjusting pulley H! to effect speed variations in the driven mechanism. The V belt H is engaged at its upper end in a pulley I 4 rigidly afilxed to a transverse shaft indicated at l5 (see Fig. 3) journalled in suitable bearings secured to the underside of the table top 5. The shaft l5 carries a worm l6 which operatively meshes with a worm gear I! to rotate the turret assembly 0, as will be hereinafter more fully described.

It will be noted that the worm gear [1 is located generally centrally of the table top 5 and is journalled on a vertically positioned main spindle' I8 rigidly carried by the table top 5 through the medium of suitably positioned depending house or supporting devices. A gear l9 having an elongated hub extending through and slightly above the table top 5 is journalled on the main spindle l8 and overlies the worm gear I? and is rigidly connected to and rotates with the worm gear ll.

A vertically disposed shaft 25 is journalled in the table top 5 and is operatively connected to the gear l9 as by a train of gears 2!. The ratio between the several gears 21 is such that the speed of rotationof the shaft 25 is equal to that of the gear 19. The shaft is operatively connected to the fibrous strand separating and transfer mechanism B in a manner more fully to be described hereinafter.

A vertically disposed shaft 22 is journalled in the table top 5 and is operatively connected to the gear l9 as through a plurality of gears 23. The ratios between the several gears 23 are such that the speed of rotation of the shaft 22 will be double that of the gear 19.

In the fibrous strand separating and transfer mechanism B there are provided a pair of upper and lower star wheels 24, 24 which are rigidly aflixed to the shaft 20. Each of the star wheels 24 is provided with four bottle-receiving pockets in order that individual bottles may be moved through an arcuate path from the intake section of the conveyer D to an operative association with the turret C. A transfer wheel generally indicated at 25 is also rigidly aifixed to the shaft 20 and overlies the star wheels 24. The upper peripheral edge portion of the wheel 25 is provided with a generally arcuate shoulder 25 which provides a ledge upon which individual lengths of the cotton wadding may be carried. The transfer Wheel 25 is provided with four peripherally located, radially extending notches corresponding to the pockets in the underlying star wheels 24. The transfer Wheel 25 carries four clamp arms generally indicated at 28, each of which is pivotally connected to the transfer wheel as through the use of pivot shafts or studs 29 and includes a radially extending arm portion 35 terminating in a relatively thin, downwardly projecting clamp finger 3i. Each clamp 28 is also provided with an upwardly projecting arm 32 provided at its outer end with a roller cam follower 33.

A sleeve 34 overlies the transfer wheel 25 and is journalled on the shaft 20 as through the medium of a bushing 35. The sleeve 34 carries a cylinder cam 36 which is engaged by the cam followers 33 of the clamps 28 in order to impart oscillating movement thereto about the axis of the pivot shaft 29 thereof. Inorder that the cam followers 33 may be maintained in constant operative engagement with the cam 35 the under portion of each clamp arm 28 is provided with a depending lug 31 against which a, compression spring 38, positioned within a recess 39 in the hub of the wheel 25, exerts constant pressure, thus always tending to cause each of the clamps 28 to rotate about its pivot shaft 29 in a direction such as to maintain contact between the cam follower 33 and the cam 35.

The sleeve 34 and its associated cam 36 are prevented from rotating with the shaft 20 through the medium of a collar 46 which is rigidly secured thereto asby a set screw 4| and which is provided with a laterally extending arm 42 (see Fig. 2), the free end of which is affixed to another machine element, as will be more fully described hereinafter.

The continuous strip F of cotton wadding is adapted to be withdrawn from the container E through the medium of feeding devices carried by the table top 5 and operatively connected to the driving elements within the base A. These devices include a bracket generally indicated at 43 which is rigidly secured to the table top 5 as by suitably positioned bolts 44, 44 and includes an upwardly extending post 45 to which the feed roll mounting plate is adjustably secured and a depending portion v46 terminating in a laterally extending bearing boss 41. A shaft 48 is journalled in the bearing boss 41 and is provided on one end with a bevel gear 49 which meshes with a bevel gear 50 rigidly affixed to the lower end of the vertical shaft 20. Thus the shaft 48. is obviously driven from the shaft 20 through the above described ear connections. The other end of the shaft 48 is provided with a crank arm 5| having a groove 52 formed therein in which is adjustably mounted a crank pin 53.

A horizontally projecting shaft 54 is journalled in the central portion of the mounting bracket 43 and extends outwardly therefrom. The shaft 54 supports the requisite gearing for imparting a step by step feed movement to the strand F of cotton wadding. These feeding connections include aset of differential gears operatively connected with the crank pin 53 of the crank arm 5| and include a bevel gear 55 rigidly affixed to the shaft 54 and having an elongated hub 56 of reduced diameter. A second bevel gear 51 is journalled on the elongated hub 56 of the gear 55 and is provided at its 5 outer end. with a. ratchet. wheel 58.;rigid1y. afiixed thereto. A similar ratchetwheel 59; is. secured to the outer. end of theshaft 5.4. and is disposed in spaced relation with respect to the. ratchet wheel 58. It may be noted thatthe teeth of the ratchet wheels 58 and .59, extend in oppositedirections. A rockarm 60 is journalledat its inner endon that portion of the, shaft 54. which lies between the. ratchet wheels 58and 59 .and is pivotall connected atitsouterend to .theupperend of a link 6|, the lower end of. whichis pivotally connectedto the crank pin 53 of thecrankarm 5!. An upwardly extending spring-biased .pawl 82 is pivotally connected .to the. rock arm. 60; on one side thereof and, is engageable. with the ratchet wheel 59. A similar but downwardly extending spring-biased pawl.63 .is pivotally. connected to the otherside of the rock arm 60 .and engages the ratchet wheel 58.

The mounting bracket 43. rotatably carries a vertically extending shaft 64 journalled in aboss 65. The lower end of the shaft 64 is provided with a bevel gear 66 which meshes with' the bevel gears 55 and. 51 so that upon rotation of the shaft 48 and its associated crank arm and pin the rock arm 60 will be oscillated up and down and the ratchet wheels 58 and 59 will be given intermittent step by step movements of rotation alternately in opposite directions and the associated bevel gears will partake of similar step by step rotary movement to impart a step by step but more nearly continuous movement of rotation to the shaft 64 in a singledirection.

A horizontally extending feed roll mounting bracket 61 is adjustably secured to the upstanding post portion 45 0f the bracket 43 as through the medium of a clamping bolt 68. The bracket 61 is provided with an upstanding bearing boss 69 through which the shaft 64 extends. A gear 10 is rigidly but adjustably afiixed to the shaft 64 in a position immediately underlying the bracket 61 and meshes with a somewhat smaller gear H rigidly affixed to the lower end of a vertically extending feed roll drive shaft 12 journalled in another portion of the bracket 61. The upper end of the feed roll shaft--72 carries a feed roll "I3 rigidly affixed thereto. A second feed roll M is rigidly affixed to a verticallydisposed idler shaft 15 journalled in the outer end of; an arm Hi the other end of which is pivotally connected to the bracket 61 as at 11 (see Fig. 8- of the drawings). The arm 16 is constantly biased so that its associated feed roll always tends to contact the feed roll 13 through the medium of a knurled adjusting knob'IB threadably engaged on a stud 19 aflixed to the bracket 61 and projecting outwardly through a suitable aperture provided in the arm 16. A compression spring 80 is carried by the stud 19 and is interposed between the knurled knob 18 and the associated face of the arm 16.. It willbe apparent that when the knob 18 is suitably tightened uponthe studs 19 the spring 80 will exert a force against the arm 15 and urge its feed roller l4v towards the contact or feeding relation with respect to the driven feed roller i3. Thus the step by step movement of rotation derived by the shaft 64 through the bevel gear ratchet and crank arm connections as hereinbefore described is transmitted to the feed roll 13 through'the gear connections l0 and H to impart a stepby step feed producing movement to the feed roll 13. It is apparent that whenever a strand of cotton wadding is positioned in the nip between the driven feed roll f3 andtheidlerfeedroller .14 .this step bystep movement as.hereinbeforerdescribed W111 impart a linear forward-motion to. the strandcf cotton.

In order to properly support.thestrandl v of cotton. wadding as. it. is fed between. they feed rollers '13v and 14.. a plate .Bi iscarried. by the bracket. 5'! andhasits upper facelyingin a plane immediately. below. the lower. faces .of. the feedrolls. The. plate .81 is provided at.its. outer end with a .downturned. portion in, order. that the strand. .F, of cotton wadding. may be. more easily pulled thereoverandis suitably apertured so that the several shaftsofthe feedingdevices may. pass therethrough.

An, upstanding stud.82I (see .Fig. 8 of the drawings) isrigidly carried by the. bracket 61 and is'locatedjust beyond the. nip of the .feed rolls l3 and H5.- The upperportion ofthe stud B2 is preferably ofv triangular cross section in orderthat it. may.v serve as a snubbingpostfor the parting or separating of, anindividual piece of cotton wadding from the continuous strand F in a manner to .be hereinafter more fully described.

When the strand F of cotton wadding is fed by the feed rolls wand "the leading portion thereof is projected into engagement. with the peripheral shoulder 26. of the transfer wheel 25. It may be found desirabletoprovide. guide means to assist each individual length of cotton wadding to be. retained .in its position on. the transfer wheel. These guide .means may conveniently comprise an arcuaterail 83 .concentrically disposed with. regard. to. .theshaft 20 carrying thev transfer wheel 25-and.having one end secured to the snubbing. post .82 and its other endconveniently supported in any suitable rnanner ,upon. the baseof themachine, as indicated at 8A in the drawings.

The bracketfi'l .is also providedwith. an upstanding post 85 which. is adapted to be engaged by the bifurcated end of the collarmovementrestraining arm 42.

As the strand of cottonwadding Fisfed by the feed rolls l3 and 14 theleading end ofv the strand becomes projected ontov the shoulder of the transfer wheel 25 and, as, viewed in Fig. 8 of the drawings, substantially enough of the strand has been fed to constitute anindividual length of material for insertion into the neck of a bottle. As the transfer wheel is rotated the lower end 3| of the associatedclamping arm (indicated in dotted lines) is moved downwardly into clamping relation onto the strandMF of cotton wadding and continued rotation of the transfer wheel will cause the strand of cotton wadding to be drawn angularly across the snubbing post 82. Inasmuch as the feeding movement imparted by the said rolls '53 and it is of an intermittent nature andthe movement of rotation of the transfer wheel 25 is constant, once a clamp 3! has become engaged with a newly fed'portion of cotton waddingthe next dwell of the feed rolls Band 14, will cause a movement of separation of the strandF of cotton wadding and will actually breakoff I or part an individual length of wadding from theccntinuous strand. After a length has been separated or parted from the continuous strand in this manner the continued rotation of the transfer wheel 25 moves the individualv length .to a position in registry with the tucking devices carried by the turret assembly C where the clamp arm 3!, is released from its clamping engage: ment with the individual. length of v cotton; wad:

ding, and tucking blades become effective to move the wadding downwardly through its associated notch 21 into the neck of a bottle carried in registry therewith.

The turret assembly includes a turret wheel or plate 86 journalled on the main spindle I8 and removably afiixed to the upper end of the upstanding hub portion of the driving gear I9. The turret wheel 96 is provided with an upstanding elongated hub or sleeve 87 terminating at its lower end in a shoulder portion 88 providing a peripheral ledge 89 for the support of containers into which the individual pieces of the cotton wadding are to be inserted. An annular plate-type star wheel 90 having four peripheral pockets is rigidly affixed to the shoulder portion 88 of the turret wheel and the pockets thereof are shaped to conform to the bodily configuration of the containers or bottles upon which the work functions are to be performed. A second star wheel 9! having four pockets in registry with the pockets of the star Wheel 90 is rigidly afiixed to a mounting sleeve 92 which is in turn removably secured to the upstanding sleeve portion 8! of the turret wheel. The pockets of the upper star Wheel 9I are shaped to conform to the neck portions of the bottles and the star wheel is disposed in spaced relation with respect to the star wheel '90.

A lower spindle plate 93 provided with a depending sleeve 94 is slidably carried by the upstanding sleeve portion 81 of the turret wheel and is prevented from angular movement with respect thereto through the medium of suitable slideway and key connections. The central portion of the upper face of the spindle plate 93 is counterbored to provide a recess into which a thrust bearing 95 mounted on the main spindle I8 is set. An upper spindle plate 96 is journalled on the main spindle I8 and maintained in spaced relation with respect to the lower spindle plate 93 as by suitable stay bolts (not shown) and a cylindrical casing 91 formed from sheet metal or the like. It will be appreciated that the turret wheel 86, the star wheels 90 and 9|, and the upper and lower spindle plates 96 and 93 all rotate as a unit under the influence of the driven gear I9.

Mechanisms are carried between the upper and lower spindle plates 96 and 98 for first effecting an initial tucking of an individual length of cotton wadding into the neck of a bottle and then eifecting a lateral displacement of portions of the cotton to positions underlying the shoulders of the bottle into which the cotton has been inserted. To this end the turret assembly is provided with four sets of mechanism (corresponding to the number of pockets of the star wheels 98 and SI) which are identical in structure. Accordingly, for convenience herein a detailed description will be made of only one of these assemblies and it will be appreciated that the remainder are alike.

A vertically reciprocable plunger or rod 99 is supported in suitable bearings in the upper and lower spindle plates 96 and 93 and is provided at its lower end with clamping means 99 for releasably holding atucking blade I99. The upper end of the plunger or rod 98 projects sufficiently far above the plane of the upper spindle plate 96 that it cannot become accidentally disengaged from support therein. The central portion of the rod 98 is provided with an adjustably positioned casting IOI slidably car riedthereonand releasably secured as through the use of a clamping bolt I02. The inner face of the casting IN is provided with a roller cam follower I03 which is adapted to engage a cylinder cam I04 secured on the main spindle I8 as by an elongated hub portion I05 and restrained against relative angular movement with respect thereto as through suitable key and slideway connections and/or by set screws. The cam I04 in turn carries a second cylinder cam I06 secured thereto as through clamp plates and bolt connections indicated at I07.

The cylinder cam I06 is adapted to cause the reciprocattion of a pair of spaced parallel rods I08 and I09, respectively, which are movably carried by the spaced upper and lower spindle plates 96 and 93 in a manner similar to the rod 98. Each rod I08 is provided with a casting II 0 having a lateral projection III grooved to slidably engage the rod 98 in order that relative angular rotation of the rod I08 cannot take place, but at the same time permitting vertical reciprocatory motion.. The casting IOI carried by the rod 98 is provided with a pair of oppositely extending lugs II2 through which the rods I 08 and I09 extend. The rod I 09 is provided with a casting II3 similar to the casting IIO on the rod I08 but symmetrically disposed in opposition thereto, and it is provided with a lateral lug extension H4 arcuately grooved to slidably engage the rod 98. The casting II3 similarly functions to prevent angular rotation of the rod I09 while at the same time permitting vertically reciprocatory motion thereto. The casting IIO carried by the rod I 08 is provided with an inwardly extending roller cam follower I I5 adapted to engage the cylinder cam I06. The casting II3. carried by the rod I09 is. similarly provided with an inwardly extending roller cam follower H6 also engageable with the cylinder cam I 06,

The lower end of the rod I08 is provided with pivotally connected means II"! for releasably clamping a tucking finger H8. The, clamp II! is provided with a laterally projecting lug I I9, the outer end of which is yieldably connected to the rod I08 as bya tension spring I 20 in order constantly to bias the tucking finger II8 towards. the right, as viewed in Figs. 15 and 16 of the drawings.

The lower end of the rod I09 is provided with similar clamping means I 2| carrying another tucking finger H8. It will be noted that in connection with the rod I09 the tucking finger is always biased to the left, as viewed in Figs. 15 and 16 of the drawings.

The lower end of each tucking finger II8 may be shaped as indicated in Fig. 17 of the drawings in order that the serrated ends thereof may be properly directed into the shoulders of a bottle as viewed in Figs. 15 and 16 without contacting or exerting any leverage on the neck portion of the bottle.

The upper and lower spindle plates 96 and 93 together with their associated mechanisms are vertically adjustable along the main spindle I8 with respect to the turret wheel 86 in order that the machine may be usable in connection with successive runs of bottles of difierent heights. To this end one side of the elongated hub 81 of the turret wheel 86 is provided with a longitudinal groove into which is firmly aflixed a rack I22. That portion of the depending sleeve 94 of the lowerspindle plate 93 which is in proximity to the rack I22 is provided with an offset lug por- 9 i tinIIZ3 into which isjournalled a vertically disposed. shaft I2,4 ,provided on its lower end with a vworm I25 engageable with the rack I22 and provided 'on its upper end with a bevel gear I26. Thehevel gear I25, meshes with a bevel gear I27 carried cna horizontally disposed shaft I28 journalled in a lug I29 depending from the lower spindletplatefis. The outer endofthe shaft I23 is lsquaredfas at I3lto provide a surface which canbe engaged by a wrench or by a suitably proportioned hand wheel to effect rotation thereof. Rotation of theshaft I28 willcausea similar movement of rotation of the shaft I24 and its associated worm I25 to eifect relative longitudinalsliding ,movement between the hub 81 of the,,,turret wheel and the depending sleeve es of thespindle plate assembly to vary the vertical distancebetween the turret wheel and the spindle plate assembly. Prior to any actual vertical adjustment in this manner it will be necessary to release any set screws which may be employed in the hub 105 of the cylinder cam I04 in order that the thrustbearing 95 together with the cyl-.

inder eam assembly may be slidably pushed along the main spindle I8 when the vertical adjustment ismade. After the change in adjustment of vertical height has been effected it is, of course, obvious that any set screws which may be employed on the hub I85 of the cylinder cam will a a n e -ti htene r J Whenevercontainersof different heights are to be operated upon by the machine constructed in accordance with this invention there are frequently changes in the other dimensions of such ocntainers which necessitate the replacement of the annular plate star wheels '90 and SI in order that the container-receiving 7 pockets thereof may properly conform to the configurations of the I ew containers. In order that this may be conveniently effected it may be found preferable to construct each of the annular plate star wheels 9A and iii from a plurality of segments which are removably fastened to the associated portions of the mechanism so thatit, will be unnecessary to completely disassemble the entire turret assembly C whenever changes inbottle formations are enu er a V. v

Bottles or containers into which individual lengths of cotton wadding are to be inserted are fed into and discharged from the machine constructed in accordance with, this invention through the conveyor D which is a straight-line conveyer extending across the front of the machine .andessentially comprises a conveyer belt or chain I3 I carried upon suitable pulleys or sprocket wheels (not shown) and driven through the medium of suitable power connections such as by a power take-oil (not shown) from the verticalshaft 22 journalled infthe table top 5, A pair of spaced guide rails 432, I32 is adjustably supported ina position overlying the conveyer beltisi .asthrough the medium of a plurality of supporting lugs l is which are in turn carried by a vertically disposed, horizontally extending main conveyer-mounting plate I34 (see Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings). I V v V Container feed controlmeans generally indicated at I35 are associated with the intake portion of the conveyer D in a position immediatelyahead ofthe transfer assembly B. The feed control meehanism comprisesa mounting bracket I36 secured to a stationary part of the conveyer D in whichis journalled vertically disposed sha it car y Q its l o e find a Sprocket gear I38 which is operatively connected to a similar sprocket gear I39 securedto the dependingpoftio'n of the vertical shaft 20 of theftable top 5;as by a sprocket chain l lil An arm MI is pivotally carried by the shaft I31 and rotatably supports a multiple pocket star wheelnltz on a shaft I 43 which is driven. from the shaft I 37 through suitable sprocket ichain andvgear. connections (not shown) It will be'appreciated that the linear speed of advance of the. conveyer belt IfiI and the rotati've speed of the star wheel I42 are so regulated with respect to the speed of ro tation of the transfer. wheel 25 that each container which is-r'eleased'from a pocket of the'star wheel I42 willbe received into a. pocket of the spaced star wheels 2,4 of the-transfer mechanism in properly timed relation. Aftereach bottle has passed from the intake section of. the conveyor D through themech'anism B and the turretmechanism Cit is dis'char'gedlfrom thgstarwheel pocket of .7 the turret mechanismcinto engagement with a final two-pocketdischarge wheel I44 secured.

to the upstanding portion of the shaft 22 projecting above the table ,to'p.5. .It will be understoodthat the two-pocket star wheel I l lrotates twice for each revolution of. the turret assembly C in order properly to re r'nove bottlesufrom each of the four pockets of the turret assembly star wheels. 7 l t v In. order that the bottles may be individually directed. through their proper arcuate paths of travel from one., 1%( hine portion to the other after they leave the entrance section of theconveyer D until they return to the discharge section of the conveyer suitable guide rneans are provided. To thatencl a p ate its i secured in spaced relation above the table top 5 and overlies the mid portion of the conyeyer and the adjacent part of the table top. One edge portion of the plate I45 is curved to conformwith the radius of. curvature of the transfer mechanism spaced Star heels T eQ t a 'v 'rd pr ec spo ti n o t e p a J4 under esim m'entalstar wheel 9| pf the turret assembly C and is arcuately configured as at I46 inorder to clear the cen ral portion of .the turret assembly, and the opposite end portion of the plate I 45 is curved as at I41 to conform with the general radius of curvature of the two-pocket discharge wheel I44. Thus the curved end portions of the plate I45 together with the associated movable elements of the machine define arcuate paths of travel or guidewayswithinwhich theindividual containers are directed. The turret assembly C is provided with arcuate guide means spaced around the segmental star wheels 9Iland SI thereo ondcornprising an arcuate guide rail I43 carried by a pair of horizontally disposed, radially extending supporting studs I49, I49 adjustably supported on brackets I50 through the medium of adjusting knobs I5.I threadably engaged: on the outer ends of the studs I49 land yieldably biased against upstanding portions of the brackets I50 asby compression springs I5 2.

While the operation of a machine. constructed in accordance with, this inventionshould be readily apparent from the foregoing description it is believed that a clearer understanding of they invention maybe had if one complete cycle of operation is described. A line of partially filled bottles into which individual pieces of cotton wadding are to be inserted is suppliedrto the intake end of the conyeyerD. The leading bottle of the solid line islengaged withinfa pocket of the feed control star wheel I42,.which effects a 1 spacing of the leading bottle from the remainder and permits it to be fed in properly timed relation along the conveyer D until it abuts the leading arcuate edge portion of the guide plate I45 overlying the table top 5, at which time the container simultaneously becomes engaged by pockets of the spaced star wheels 24, 24 of the transfer mechanism B. As viewed in Fig. 4 of the drawings the transfer wheel 25 and its associated devices are rotated in a counterclockwise direction.

As the bottle is being fed to the transfer mechanism the shaft 48 and the crank arm 5| have beenrotating to effect oscillatory movement of the rock arm 60 to feed a length of cotton wadding F between the feed rolls 13 and I4 onto the shouldered portion 26 of the transfer wheel in which substantially equal portions of the cotton wadding are disposed to either side of a radial notch 21 of the transfer wheel. At this stage a roller cam follower 33 of the clamp arms 28 becomes engaged with the outwardly bulging portion of the horizontal cam 36 which is maintained rigid with respect to the shaft 20 to thereby cause an outward oscillation of the clamp arm 28, the lower end 3I of which clamps the strand F of cotton wadding against the shoulder of the transfer wheel 25 (see Fig. 9 of the drawings). As the transfer wheel 25 continues to rotate the rock arm 60 reaches a period of dwell which causes topping of feeding of the strand of cotton wadding between the feed rolls I3 and I4 and causes that portion of the wadding lying between the feed rolls toward the transfer mechanism to be abruptly pulled across the triangularly crosssectioned snubbing post 82 to thereby separate or part, purely by tension, an individual length of wadding from the continuous strand. By referring to Fig. 2 of the drawings it will be seen that a new length of wadding is being fed onto the transfer wheel 25 adjacent the right quadrant thereof and that two individual lengths of wadding are carried thereby, one at the upper quadrant thereof and the other at the left quadrant thereof.

Continued rotation of the transfer wheel 25 with its associated individual length of cotton wadding and container held in the pocket of the spaced star wheels 24 brings the container and associated wadding into the position indicated at the left end quadrant of the transfer wheel 25 as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. At this point the roller cam follower 33 of the clamp arm 28 i approaching a drop or recession on the horizontal cam 30 which will permit the compression spring 38 to rotate the clamp arm 28 about its pivot shaft 29 to release the individual length of cotton wadding from its clamped engagement in the shouldered portion 26 of the transfer wheel. Upon release of the individual length of wadding as described above the bottle and radial notch 21 of the transfer wheel have been brought into substantial vertical registry with a tucking blade I of the turret assembly C and a composite pocket of the spaced star wheel 90 and 9I thereof is about to engage the bottle to remove it from the transfer mechanism to the control of the turret.

A complete cycle of the initial and lateral tucking operations which are performed by each set of tucking blades and fingers carried by the turret assembly-C will be readily understood by reference to Figs. 12 through 16, inclusive, of the drawings. Fig. 12 is a development of the two cylinder cams I04 and I00 of the turret assembly with the roller cam followers 103, H and H6 of 12 the associated rods indicated thereon in dotted line positions through several stages of one complete cycle of operations. illustrate the actual positions of the tucking blade I00 and the tucking fingers H0 as they appear in positions comparable to those indicated by the lines I3-I3 through Iii-I6 of Fig. 12. It will be seen that when the roller cam followers are in the positions indicated adjacent the line I ?.I3 of Fig. 12 the tucking blade I00 is about to move downwardly towards the transfer wheel 25 to move an individual length of cotton wadding F carried thereon down through the radial notch 21 thereof into the upstanding neck portion of an associated bottle. As shown in Fig. i l (see also line I4I4 of Fig. 12) the rod 08 and its associated tucking blade I00 have efiected the initial insertion of a length of cotton wadding into the neck of a bottle and the lefthand tucking finger as viewed in Fig. .14 is commencing its downward movement as its cam follower I I5 starts to traverse a descending portion of the cylinder cam I00. Since the tucking fingers H8 are spring-biased with respect to theirmounting rods I08 and I00, respectively, they will always tend to contact the tucking blade I00 and. will enter the neck of the bottle near the central portion thereof. Between the lines I4I0 and I 5I5 of Fig. 12 the tucking blade I00 has been retracted from its lowermost position of downward movement to a position slightly above the top of the neck portion of the bottle and the lefthand tucking finger H8 has completed one downward movement into the neck portion of the bottle and effected a lateral displacement of a portion of the cotton wadding under the righthand shoulder portion of the bottle and has become retracted from its wadding-engaging position within the bottle. As the lefthand finger H8 becomes retracted from the bottle the opposite or righthand finger I I 8 enters the bottle as its mounting rod I09 moves downwardly under the control of its roller cam follower H6 riding on the cylinder cam I00 to effect a leftward lateral displacement of the wadding to a position underlying the lefthand shoulder portion of the bottle as viewed in Fig. 15. A final lateral tucking operation is performed as the parts reach the positions indicated by Fig. 16 of the drawings (see also line I5IE3 of Fig. 12)

' in which the lefthand tucking finger H8 under a position lying entirely within the neck portion of the bottle. The righthand finger H8 thereafter performs a second leftwardly directed tucking operation to properly compact portions of the cotton more firmly under the left shoulder of the bottle. Following a completion of the lateral tucking operations by the fingers H8 the roller cam follower I03 of the rod 98 reaches a slight dip in the contour of the cylinder cam I00 as shown at the extreme lefthand end of Fig. 12 of the drawings to effect a final slight downward movement of the tucking blade I00 to complete the final topping off or compacting of the cotton wadding within the neck of the bottle. After this final compacting is completed the tucking blade I00 together with the rods I08 and I00 carrying the tucking fingers H0 are returned to their initial starting positions.

In Figs. 20 and 21 of the drawings there is illustrated a modified form of clamping arm for use in connection with the transfer mechanism Figs. 13 through 16' which is constructed to permit relief inthe event that anoversized piece of wadding should be held between the outer end of the clamp arm and theassociated-portion of the transfer wheel "25. In this particular modification the clamping means includes an upstanding arm portion I53 carrying a roller cam-follower I54 at its upper end and being provided at its lower end with a horizontally'disposed bifurcated bearing boss I55. The arm I53 is adapted to receive one end of a clamp arm ISbetween the bifurcations of the bearing boss- I55, and a'pivotal connection is retained therebetween as through the medium of a pivot pin I51. The outer end of the arm'l'56 terminates in-a downwardly extending portion I'SS-engageable with a length of cotton wadding carried on-thetransfer wheel. The inner portion of the arm I56-is-recessed to receive a relatively heavy "compression spring I59, the outwardly projecting end of which is disposed in abutting relation with the corresponding portion of the upstanding arm I53. Opposite sides of thearm I58 are prov'ided with a pair of oppositely directed lugs ISO-adapted to engage a shoulder 16-! carried on each bearing boss I55 and serve to limit the amount of pivotal movement that=can take plaoe' between the arms 53 and 156 under the infiucnceof the compression spring I59. It should be noted that the strength of the compression spring I59 should be great enough that there will'be no relative pivotal movement between the arms I53 and I56 under normal clamping pressure which an individual length of cotton wadding is held between the depending armportion I58 and the associated shoulder portion of the transfer wheel 25 unless through accident th'ere should be an unduly large or thick portion of cotton wadding placed into position for clamping on the transfer wheel which would normally causeoverloading on the clamping arm and its associated cam follower and cam mechanisms.

Thus it will be Seenthat the invention herein disclosed provides a novel machine for the automatic insertion of'individual lengths of cotton wadding into the necks of successively presented bottles while the bottles are moved continuously without interruption through work-performing portions of the machine; in which individual lengths of the cotton wadding are separated from a continuous Is'trand thereof automatically without the use of any severing mechanism as such; in which means are provided for not only inserting a length of wa'dding into the neck of a bottle but for also effecting lateral displacement of portions of each length of wadding to positions underlying the shoulder portions of the bottle into which the cotton is inserted; in which the lateral displacement of portions of the wadding is effected in first one direction and then the opposite direction in order that manipulation of the wadding may be more easily facilitated; and which is simple in design and rugged in construction.

It is, of course, to be understood that various details of arrangements and proportions of parts may be modified within the scope of the appended -claims.

I claim:

1. In a machine for inserting individual lengths of packing material into neck portions of containers, the combination of means including feed rolls and clam-ping devices for breaking off purely by tension individual lengths of packing material from :a continuous strand thereof, with means for transferring said individual lengths ofpack-in'g material from the'position at which they are separatedfrom said continuous strand to a position at which insertion into the neck portion of a container'can be effected, the clamping devices of said breaking-off means being carried by said transferring means, means disposed in close association with said transfer means for successively removing the said individual lengths of packing therefrom and inserting the said 'individual lengthsof packing into individually presented containers, and means for presenting individual'containers successively to said inserting means.

2. In amaohine'for inserting individual lengths of -fibrous material into the necks of bottles, a main' fra-r'ne, means supported on said main frame for fe'edinga continuous strand of fibrous material, a continuously rotating transfer wheel located adjacent-said feeding means and adapted to support the free end of said strand after it leaves said feeding means, plural strand-clamping means carried by said transfer wheel, means for driving said feeding means to impart step by step near-continuous feeding movement to said strand whereby successive individual lengths of fibrous material will-be broken therefrom and supported ons'aid transfer wheel'after successively presented free-ends of said strand have become engaged by said clamping means and during periods of dwell between certain successive feeding steps imparted to said strand, a continuously rotating turret supported on said main frame and located adjacent said transfer wheel, means carried by saidftu'rret for effecting the removal of the individual :lengths from said transfer wheel and the -insertion thereof into the necks of successively presented bottles, means for releasing each said clamping means prior to removal of its elamped individual strand length from said transfer wheel, means for successively presenting a series of bottles to said turret in properly timed relation, and continuously operating means for withdrawing successively packed bottles from said turret.

3. In a machine for inserting individual lengths of fibrous material into the necks of shouldered bottles a main frame, means supported on said main frame for feeding a continuous strand of fibrous material, a continuously rotating transfer wheel located adjacent said feeding means and adapted'to support the free end of said strand after it leaves said feeding means, a plurality of strand clamping means carried by said transfer wheel, means for driving said feeding means to impart step by step near-continuous feeding movement to said strand whereby successive individual lengths of fibrous material will be broken therefrom and supported on said transfer Wheel after successively presented free ends of said strand have become engaged by said clamping means and during periods of dwell between certam successive feeding steps imparted to said strand, a continuously rotating turret supported on said frame and located adjacent said transfer wheel, means carried by said turret for effecting the removal of the individual lengths from said transfer wheel and the insertion thereof into the necks of successively presented bottles, means for releasing each said clamping means prior to removal of its clamped individual strand length from said transfer wheel, means including springbiased tucking fingers carried by said turret effective after insertion of an individual strand length into the neck of a bottle to alternately tuck portions of such strand under the shoulders of said bottle, means for successively presenting a series of bottles to said turret in properly timed relation to the strand-inserting and tucking means thereof, and continuously operating means for effecting the withdrawal of successively packed bottles from said turret.

4. In a machine for inserting individual lengths of fibrous material into the necks of shouldered bottles, a main frame, means supported on said main frame for intermittently feeding a continuous strand of fibrous material, a continuously rotating transfer wheel located adjacent said feeding means and being provided with a peripheral strand-supporting shoulder having a plurality of radially extending notches formed therein, plural strand-clamping means carried by said transfer wheel and disposed in positions intermediate said radially extending notches, said continuous strand of fibrous material being broken by tension successively into individual lengths supported on said peripheral shoulder by the continued movement of rotation of said transfer wheel during certain periods of dwell in the intermittent feeding of said continuous strand, a continuously rotating turret supported on said main frame and located adjacent said transfer wheel in overlapping relation with respect thereto, means carried by said turret for pushing each individual length of fibrous material downwardly through an associated radially extending notch into the necks of successively presented bottles, means for releasing each said clamping means prior to removal of its clamped individual strand length from said transfer wheel, means carried by said turret thereafter effective to tuck a portion of said individual strand length under one shoulder of said bottle, and additional means thereafter effective to tuck another portion of said individual strand length under the other shoulder of said bottle, said initially effective downwardly pushing means being finally effective to again move downwardly to tam down the central portion of said individual strand length within the area of the neck portion of said bottle.

5. In a machine for inserting individual lengths of fibrous material into the necks of shouldered bottles, a main frame, means supported on said main frame for intermittently feeding a continuous strand of fibrous material, a continuously rotating transfer wheel located adjacent said feeding means and being provided with a peripheral strand-supporting shoulder having a plurality of radially extending notches formed therein, plural strand-clamping means carried by said transfer wheel and disposed in positions intermediate said radially extending notches, said continuous strand of fibrous material being broken by tension successively into individual lengths supported on said peripheral shoulder by the continued movement of rotation of said transfer wheel during certain periods of dwell in the intermittent feeding of said continuous strand, a continuously rotating turret supported on said main frame and located adjacent said transfer wheel in overlapping relation with respect thereto, means carried by said turret for pushing each individual length of fibrous material downwardly through an associated radially extending notch into the necks of successively presented bottles, means for releasing each said clamping means prior to removal of its clamped individual strand length from said transfer wheel,

means carried by said turret thereafter efiective to tuck a portion of said individual strand length under one shoulder of said bottle, additional means thereafter effective to tuck another portion of said individual strand length under the other shoulder of said bottle, said initially effective downwardly pushing means being finally effective to again move downwardly to tarop down the central portion of said individual strand length within the area of the neck portion of said bottle, and means for successively presenting a series of continuously moving bottles to said turret in properly timed relation to the strandinserting and tucking means thereof.

6. In a machine for inserting individual lengths of fibrous material into the necks of shouldered bottles, a main frame, means supported on said main frame for intermittently feeding a continuous strand of fibrous material, a continuously rotating transfer wheel located adjacent said feeding means and being provided with a peripheral strand-supporting shoulder having a plurality of radially extending notches formed therein, plural strand-clamping means carried by said transfer wheel and disposed in positions intermediate said radially extending notches, said continuous strand of fibrous material being broken by tension successively into individual lengths supported on said peripheral shoulder by the continued movement of rotation of said transfer wheel during certain periods of dwell in the intermittent feeding of said continuous strand, a continuously rotating turret supported on said main frame and located adjacent said transfer wheel in overlapping relation with respect thereto, means carried by said turret for pushing each individual length of fibrous material downwardly through an associated radially extending notch into the necks of successively presented bottles, means for releasing each said clamping means prior to removal of its clamped individual strand length from said transfer wheel, means carried by said turret thereafter effective to tuck a portion of said individual strand length under one shoulder of said bottle, additional means thereafter effective to tuck another portion of said individual strand length under the other shoulder of said bottle, said initially effective downwardly pushing means being finally effective to again move downwardly to tamp down the central portion of said individual strand length within the area of the neck portion of said bottle, means for successively presenting a series of continuously moving bottles to said turret in properly timed relation to the strand-inserting and tucking means thereof, and continuously operating means for effecting the withdrawal of successively packed bottles from said turret.

7. In a machine of the character described, means for supplying a length of fibrous material, a tucking blade for inserting the said individual length of fibrous material into the neck of a shouldered bottle, a tucking finger thereafter effective to tuck a portion of said fibrous material under one shoulder of the bottle, another tucking finger effective after said first mentioned tucking finger to tuck another portion of said fibrous material under the opposite shoulder of said bottle, and means for sequentially imparting tucking motions to said tucking blade and to each of said tucking fingers.

8. In a machine of the character described, means for continuously moving a series of partly filled shouldered bottles, means for supplying successively a series of individual lengths of fibrous 17 material for insertion into the necks of said bottles, means for eifecting the insertion of each of said individual lengths into the neck of an associated bottle and comprising a tucking blade for effecting the initial insertion, a tucking finger thereafter effective to tuck a portion of said fibrous material under one shoulder of the bottle, and another tucking finger thereafter effective to tuck another portion of said fibrous material under the opposite shoulder of said bot-,

tle, and means for bodily moving said inserting and tucking means in synchronization with said continuously moving bottles whereby the said individual lengths of fibrous material will be inserted into the necks of said bottles while said bottles are continuously moving.

9. In a machine for inserting individual lengths of fibrous material into the necks of bottles, a

main frame, means supported on said main frame for feeding a continuous strand of fibrous ma-,

terial, a continuously rotating transfer wheel located adjacent said feeding means and adapted to support the free end of said strand after it leaves said feeding means, strand-clamping means carried by said transfer wheel, the feed-'1 ing movement of said feeding means being in- I terrupted at periodic intervals whereby successive individual lengths of fibrous material will be broken therefrom and supported on said transfer after successively presented free ends of said said feeding means, a continuously rotating turret supported on said main frame and located adjacent said transfer wheel, means carried by said turret for effecting the removal of the individual lengths from said transfer wheel and the insertion thereof into the necks of successively presented bottles, means for releasing said clamping means prior to removal of its clamped individual strand length from said transfer wheel, means for successively presenting a series of bottles to said turret in properly timed relation, and continuously operating means for withdrawing successively packed bottles from said turret.

HOWARD E. GANTZER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of'this patent:

UNITED STATES ifATENTS Number Name Date 1,425,059 Schliefer Aug. 8, 1922 2,171,572 Kelly Sept. 5, 1939 2,269,722 Lakso Jan. 13, 1942 2,304,932 Lakso Dec. 15, 1942 2,328,582 Ratchford Sept. 7, 1943 2,412,089 Kelly Dec. 3, 1946 2,501,770 Gantzer Mar. 28, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 334,107 Great Britain Aug. 28, 1930 

